I graduated this week! Yes, I'm no longer one of the new missionaries in my zone. I was assigned the job of mentoring a really new missionary. Sister Stanley is a sweet lady from Colorado. Except for those two facts, she reminds me a lot of me when I first started here. Her husband died near the time that mine did. She has used computers a lot, but doesn't really understand them. She has children and grandchildren she misses. She came on this mission with a leap of faith that she could learn what she needed to learn in order to be of service. Trying to help this dear sister has been humbling so far. I am not an expert at the things we are expected to know. I have learned to do a lot, but teaching someone else to do it requires vocabulary and precision that I just haven't got. (I know you need to double click there, but I don't know what "there" is called, or what would happen if you only single clicked) So if anything, the gift I am giving Sister Stanley is the permission to not know everything. My example tells her that you can still do something without knowing it all.

The Toy Story Birthday Party

David recently turned 24 and you may have caught the allusion, in a previous blog, to the party his cousin Jerusha threw for him. David has always been a real toy story fan, but with the announcement of Toy Story 3 to be released later this year, he has been a little obsessed. All he wanted for his birthday was a Woody costume. He even created some very detailed drawings so I would get it right. (Just so you know, I once made a perfectly wonderful "Prince Eric at the wedding" costume at his request and had to start over because the number of buttons was wrong)

Anyway, I got to looking online at Woody costumes, and found nothing even close to fitting my wannabe Woody. Instead I made a trip to a couple of local thrift stores to find the raw materials and then got creative with markers, scissors, needle and thread. I had California relations bring bits and pieces from home and eventually we had a passable ensemble.

Well, Jerusha got wind of David's current obsession and volunteered to give him a party with the beloved Toy Story theme. Jerusha is a champion party giver. Her parties are amazing from start to finish, decor, entertainment, food, all amazing. This party was held in my mother's incredibly beautiful back yard, made available by the warmer weather and melted snow of the past 2 weeks.

Visitors were welcomed to the party through a western "arch" proclaiming "David's Roundup." Tables were set up with checked table cloths and decorated with toys (slinky dog, Mr and Mrs potato head, Buzz Light Year, etc.) There were signs everywhere, directing guests to the toy story activity of their choice. The shooting range was pretty popular with sheriff's badges and western bandanas for successful shooters. Sam brought "Bullseye" aka Norman for guests to ride. There was a pin the face on Mr. Potato head game, a pinata that looked like one of those funny 3 eyed green squeak toys, a giant bounce house, a cotton candy machine and popcorn machine, tons of good food and a cake decorated with little toy story characters. Each young guest got a toy story bucket full of fun stuff to take home with them. In addition to this, Buzz Light Year himself made an appearance. David was so happy. He had invited people from work and a bunch of local relatives so it was a fun, big group.

Early the next morning, after the gifts were opened and the cake consumed and the mess cleared away, David woke me up with a sad expression on his face. "What's wrong," I asked, fearing he was ill again. "It's over," he replied, "My birthday is over." The down side of so much fun is that it ends, but oh, the memories

What a blast!

You've heard me say before that serving this mission is lots of fun. Everyday brings new experiences and new friends. One day this week I had 2 different patrons ask if they could give me a hug as we parted. Such is the nature of my work that I often feel like I have become a part of the family that these people are seeking so earnestly. Needless to say, it is intensely satisfying to be a part of the search and discovery of each of our library patron's long lost family history.

But I have loving family and friends that I had to leave behind in order to serve this mission, and I would be less than honest if I didn't admit to missing them terribly. My homesickness has been greatly diminished by recent visit by 3 of my sons and their families and some good friends from home.

Two weeks ago Andy and Jenny and their adorable son Cohen came for a weekend visit. It was a warm and wonderful time. We went for a wild ride on the horses, played and visited and caught up on the comings and goings of their family during the past few months. Cohen has grown so much and looks more like a kid than a baby now.

A week later Christian and Susie and their 4 wonderful kids came. They had been on a little camping trip and made the extra effort to include Salt Lake City in their loop. We were able to visit Temple Square, watch conference together, build snowmen, and celebrate an early Easter before they had to return to their busy lives.

This weekend Daniel and Kathryn and their precious little ones came calling. Included in this group was tiny newborn Derby who we met for the first time. In addition to much needed hair care, we were able to enjoy a temple session together and participate in the party of the century, a toy story themed birthday party celebrating David's 24th.

Tonight we went to dine with our dear friends the Washington family (Eric's famous ribs were the main course) and old friends the Miller family. Dominic is entering BYU in the fall and they came to look over the campus and meet with counselors.

Each visit, each embrace, each conversation with friends and family gave me much needed fuel for the year ahead as we continue in our mission service. I wouldn't trade our missionary experience for anything, but I'm so grateful for the tender mercies that enable us to stay connected to the people we love even while we are away.

The Lord Giveth. . .

The past couple of weeks have brought the official end of winter and some delightful days that made me believe Spring had arrived. Walking across Temple square I was startled to hear the sound of sprinklers. Yes, someone was watering the flower beds. Must be spring. Little buds and tiny leaves were popping out all over the trees. Flowers bloomed from the ground and from flower boxes hanging from the Temple walls. Just when I decided it was safe to leave my coat at home I was surprised to awake to a snow covered world. By afternoon the snow was mostly melted and I again took a deep breath and believed it to be a minor setback. The next two mornings brought more of the same, Spring covered by a miserable blanket of white.

My family from California has been visiting and I was busy hating the snow, for their sakes, when I noticed that they didn't seem to mind at all. In no time they had gathered enough of it to make a giant snowman. In my anxiety about slipping and breaking my neck I had forgotten that snow is fun!

Thursday was my wedding anniversary. I was able to attend the temple that day and remember gratefully the day my sweetheart and I were sealed for Eternity in a House of God not far from here. What joy to know that our separation is just temporary.

I ran across a poem by my father Charles Osborn that says it so well:

Spring

The emergence of new life from the black earth

Is the annual prompting from God

That cold and dark and death

Are only a brief test of faith.

The celebration of the Easter season, the new life struggling with the tentative Spring, the glorious messages of hope brought to us this conference are also reminders that God is in His Heaven and is mindful of us here.